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Passenger fury at Hinckley bus changes

FURIOUS commuters have called a new bus service an "absolute disgrace."

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by Hinckley Times

11:45, 4 Sep 2008Updated18:41, 30 Sep 2013

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FURIOUS commuters have called a new bus service an "absolute disgrace."

Centrebus took over the town's bus service on August 26, and a group of commuters say the service has suffered.

Tom Whetstone said he waited 40 minutes for a bus from Hinckley to the Three Pots estate. He said: "Before the changes you could set your watch by the buses - but since it happened they have been absolutely awful."

Phyllis Cole, 84, from Burbage, said: "Twice I have had to get a taxi home.

"Once I had to walk from Burbage to Hinckley and when I arrived I felt so feint I had to sit down.

"Once I was waiting so long for a bus I felt like I was going to pass out. It's an absolute disgrace."

The county council oversee the service, which is provided by Centrebus

A spokesman for the council said: "This is the first we have heard about any problems with service reliability although Centrebus did take over the whole town service operation from Arriva on August 26.

"Investigations are ongoing into the issues raised by the regular users."

Centrebus commercial Director Dave Shelley said: "It would be helpful if the people concerned could contact us directly, either by telephone to our helpline on 0844 357 6520 or via email to info@centrebus.com with the details of the specific problems they have been having, including the times and services affected.

"This will allow us to investigate their concerns, take any necessary action, and report back directly."

He said one customer had been in touch with a complaint about route five but there had been no other contact from customers about Hinckley town buses.

"The depot is fully resourced with both staff and vehicles."

Borough council leader Cllr David Bill (Lib Dem, Clarendon) has asked the county council to act.

He said: "It is absolutely essential that local bus services are safe and reliable.

"Something has gone wrong with this service and I very much hope that the new operators will give priority to putting matters right."